Consultant - Emergency Humanitarian Assistance to Conflict-affected Populations at Christian Aid

Location: Maiduguri of Borno state
Contract type: Short-term consultancy
Period: 10 days within 2 weeks including weekends
Start Date: 15th December 2016

Background

• Christian Aid (UK) Nigeria country programme in partnership with an Act Alliance member - Swiss Church Aid with support from Swiss Solidarity and is implementing a humanitarian response project in Borno states of the Northeast, Nigeria titled Emergency humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected populations in Borno state.
• This was a short-term project designed to take place over three months (August 1st 2017 – October 31st) but was given a one month project extension, taking the project end date to 30th November 2017.

The project objective was to:

• Support emergency humanitarian interventions and alleviate suffering through integrated and humanitarian response focusing on the most vulnerable people in Konduga LGA

The project outcome was that:

• 640 vulnerable conflict-affected families in Konduga LGA receive emergency cash assistance to address their food security needs with direct purchases
• Evaluation Purpose & Scope The purpose of the evaluation is to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the project design, implementation process, achievements of its results and objectives as well as lessons learned proffering recommendations that will benefit the design of future interventions in the North-East. CA will share the output of the evaluation with relevant stakeholders such as UN agencies, SEMA, clusters/sectors working groups, INGOs and where appropriate partners.

Specific Objectives

• To assess the progress made towards achieving the project objectives based on the project proposal and available monitoring, feedback and complaint data as well as any unexpected outcomes as a result of the project interventions and produce an outcome analysis.
• To determine the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of the beneficiary selection criteria, registration process implementation process, achieved results, objectives, lessons learned and recommendations that will benefit the design of future interventions in the North East.
• To determine the strengths (including successful innovations) and weaknesses (factors impeding progress) of the project design, plans, implementation, M&E and Accountability to affected people using the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability in the project and draw lessons from the project in order to share learning with CA (and partners) and improve on future interventions.

Evaluation Principles: (OECD/DAC Evaluation Criteria and CHS)

• The OECD/DAC definition of evaluation has been adopted by Danida and all major development agencies internationally. Taken together, these criteria should provide the decision-maker with the essential information and clues to understand the situation and determine what should be done next. Consultant needs to suggest “evaluation methodology” that entails following key indicators for assessing the overall results attained by the implemented project.
• Relevance The extent to which the objectives of a development intervention are consistent with beneficiaries’ requirement, country needs, global priorities and partners’ and donors’ policies.
• Efficiency A measure of how economically resources/inputs (funds, expertise, time, etc.) are converted to results.
• Effectiveness The extent to which the development intervention’s objectives were achieved, or are expected to be achieved, taking into account their relative importance.
• Impacts The positive and negative, primary and secondary long-term effects produced by a development intervention, directly or indirectly, intended or unintended.
• Sustainability The continuation of benefits from a development intervention after major development assistance has been completed.
• The probability of long-term benefits. The resilience to risk of the net benefit flows over time.
• Connectedness The need to ensure that activities of a short-term emergency nature are carried out in a context that takes longer-term and interconnected problems into account.
• Coherence The need to assess security, developmental, trade and military policies as well as humanitarian policies, to ensure that there is consistency and, in particular, that all policies take into account humanitarian and human rights considerations. Coverage The need to reach major population groups facing life threatening suffering wherever they are.
• The evaluation should reference all the CHS Commitments and requirements (Key Actions and Organisational Responsibilities) where relevant as a framework for assessing the quality and accountability of this project.
• Collectively, the CHS provides a framework for assessing the essential elements of a principled, accountable, high-quality response that puts people and communities affected by crisis at the centre.
• Christian Aid is certified against the CHS for all humanitarian, development and advocacy activities and is committed to continual learning and improvement based on experiences.
• Methodology The methodology should combine a wide range of evaluation techniques (e.g. quantitative, qualitative, and participatory), simple analytical tools and information sources to allow triangulation of information and ensure impartiality and balanced feedback in assessing the effect of the response.
• We require a participatory methodology, whereby the evaluator engages relevant key stakeholders, including SEMA, IDPs, including vulnerable and marginalised IDPs e.g. PLW and host community leaders.
• In particular, all key stakeholders should be consulted to ensure a comprehensive understanding of diverse impact of the human response in line with the purpose of the end of project evaluation.
• Consultancy Day The consultancy shall last for a period of 10 working days within 2 weeks period commencing from date as stated above.

Consultancy Responsibilities

• Take the lead in developing tools for the evaluation process and present them for review by Christian Aid for inputs.
• Review project documents, monitoring, feedback and complaint data and other relevant literatures.
• Undertake identification and training of the data collection team including enumerators to help in data collection process.
• Participate in and supervise data collection, including qualitative data generated through FGDs and ensure accuracy and quality assurance in the evaluation process. The consultant is responsible to ensure data validity, consistency and accuracy and to submit reports written in good standard English. If these standards are not met, the consultant will, at his/her own expense, make the necessary amendments to bring the reports to the required standards.
• Compile and submit a draft report to Christian Aid to make its input before a final copy will be produced and submitted to Christian Aid.

Prepare and present summary key findings and recommendations to CA:

• Deliverable(s).
• An inception report written in English language submitted electronically. This report should clearly outline the approach (sampling framework, data collection strategy, methodologies, outline of final evaluation report, evaluation ethics process, quality assurance process etc.).
• Conduct field visits to the Galtamari project area in the JERE LGA, including interaction with a cross section of stakeholders there especially vulnerable and marginalised people and communities affected by crisis
• Submit soft copy of primary quantitative and qualitative data collection tools and description of the process of development of the tools.
• PowerPoint presentation of content of training for enumerators, as well as agenda for the training before field visit.
• Submit soft copy of fully “cleaned” datasets of all collected data in two formats; Excel and SPSS or STATA format.
• Presentation of summary of key findings and recommendations to CA.
• Submit final soft copy of evaluation assessment report that is clear, simple, concise and free of jargon, with main body not exceeding 10 pages (inclusive of executive summary and recommendations). Technical details should be confined to appendices, which should also include a list of key informants, number of sessions and the evaluation team’s work schedule.

Consultant competencies

• At least 4 years demonstrable knowledge and experience on MEAL, including the conduct of evaluations in humanitarian response.
• Knowledge and expertise in participatory research methodologies with vulnerable and marginalised people, and demography.
• Knowledge of the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability
• Demonstrable analytical, writing and communication skills.
• Knowledge of humanitarian response in northeast Nigeria.
• Experience in assessment report writing.

Budget and terms of engagement:

• CA will cover for the necessary accommodation and transportation costs incurred by the consultant according to CA in-country rates where necessary. The consultant will submit a financial proposal covering all expenses All other costs incurred will be covered from the consultancy fees
• 5% withholding tax will be deducted at source from the total cost of the consultancy fee.
• 40% of the consultancy fee will be paid upon submission and approval of inception report.
• 20% of the consultancy fee will be paid upon submission of draft report.
• 40% of the total fee will be paid upon approval of final report by the donor.

Management:

• The Consultant will work with and report to Humanitarian Response Manager who will provide the needed technical guidance.

Timeline for deliverables:

• Draft report: by 28th December 2018. The draft report should include initial findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Final report: by 6th January 2017.